Expansible chamber motor with valved flexible piston



L. FRANCES NW, 3@, W43.

EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER MOTOR WITH VALJED FLEXIBLE PIS'iON 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 51; 1944 L. FRANCES EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER MOTOR WITH VALVED FLEXIBLE PISTON Filed may 51, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Law 213 framaa'fi NW. 31),. 3.9% 11.. FRANQHS v gfigsgzfig EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER MOTOR WITH VALVED FLEKIBLE PISTON Filed may '31 19434 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W I H- Patented Nov. 30, 1948 ssn EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER MOTUR WITH VALVEID FLEXIBLE PISTON Louis Francis, Union City, N. J. Application May 31, 1944, Serial No. 538,139

8 Claims. ll

This invention relates to a power device or prime movers.

An object of this invention is to provide an im-.- proved prime mover embodying the use of fluid under pressure, the fluid being eitherair from a pressure supply source or a combustible fluid.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved prime mover which may be used to produce either reciprocating or rotaly movement.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which will operate equally as well to produce either forward or reverse rota: tlon.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind wherein the stroke of the driving element may be varied so that different fluids may be used as a motive force. In the case of combustible fluids the variation in the stroke of the driving element will vary the compression, so that if the stroke isincreased to provide very high compression the combustible fluid will ignite A further object of this invention is to provide in a device of this kind an improved flexible wall in one side of the compression chamber so that fluid under high compression and at high temperatures, such as combustible fluids, may be used as a motive force.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind embodying a ressure chamber and a driving head movable toward and away from the chamber. the latter having an exhaust port which is closed by said head when the head contacts a wall of the chamber, and the wall of the chamber contacted by the head being distortable so as to cushion the impact of the head therewith and also provide for compression. of the fluid in the chamber.

With the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but 'it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a power device or prime mover constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail top plan of the device,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line il-tl of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of this invention, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line i-i of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral ill designates generally a base which has upstanding therefrom a pair of bearing members or supports it .and i2, adjacent one end thereof and has a second pair of bearings or supports l3 and Hi spaced from the supports or bearings H and it. A housing generally designated as it is rockably mounted between the bearings ii and i2 and comprises a cylindrical body It having a rear wall it. The cylindrical wall [6 is provided with a pair of trunnions l8 and IS, the latter trunnion being hollow and having a'pressure supply pipe 29 connected with the outer end thereof. The rear wall ill has extending rearwardly therefrom a bearing or guide sleeve 2! within which an elongated piston rod or slide member 22 slidably engages. 'A piston or plunger head 23 is fixed on the rod 22 on the forward side of the housing It and is of cup-shaped configuration with the convex side thereof facing the housing it. The plunger or piston 23-15 flxedly secured on the rod 22 by means of a fastening pin or like member 24.

The housing :5 includes a flexible forward wall 25 which is constructed in the form of a spirally wound spring having the convolutions thereof disposed in contacting relation so that the convolutions will provide a fluid-tight joint and the forward wall 25 closes the forward end of a pressure chamber 28 in the housing I6. A cylindrical member 27 is secured to the central portion of the flexibleforward wall 25 and is loosely disposed about the rod 22 so that fluid pressure from the chamber 26 may pass through the bore 28 of the sleeve or nipple 27 and impinge against the rear or convex side of the plunger or piston 23. The flexible wall 25 is secured in the housing I5 by means of a flanged annulus 29 having the flange 39 thereof telescoping the forward end of the cylindrical wall It and secured therein by means of fastening devices ii.

The rod 22 has secured to the forward end thereof a second rod 32 which is coupled to the rod 22 by means of a threaded sleeve 33. The sleeve 33 is locked on the two rods 22 and 32 by means of lock nuts 34 and 35, respectively. A flywheel construction. generally designated as 30, is rotatably carried by the bearings I3 and i4 and comprises a pair of spaced apart wheels 31 and 33. The wheel 31 has secured thereto a pin 4i and the initial rotatlve force applied to flywheel 36 to start the operation thereof. It will be understood that flywheel 36 will rotate with equal power or force in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. As flywheel 33 roshaft 33 which is iournaled in the bearing [3 and the wheel 38 has secured thereto a shaft 40 journaled in the bearing l4.

A pin 4i extends between the two wheels 31 and 38 and rod 32 is formed with a boss 42 which is iournaled on the pin 4i. The coupling sleeve 33 provides a means whereby the position of the plunger or piston 23 may be adjusted with respect to the housing It so that when the flywheel construction 36 is rotated the chamber 23 will be compressed by flexing of the wall 25 to provide for the desired compression on the return or compression stroke of the piston 23. It will be understood that one or both of the trunnions 33 or 40 may be extended laterally from the bearings I3 or H so that a driven means may be connected with the flywheel construction 38in order that the power derived by reciprocation of the piston 23 may be communicated to the desired driven element.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, there is disclosed a prime inover or power device, similar to the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5, but incorporating means for using combustible fuel. In the construction shown in Figures 6 and 7, the

housing la is similar in every detail to the housing l5 being rockably mounted on bearings Ila and in and a piston 23a is slidably mounted in a sleeve 2 la, the piston 23:: being secured to a piston rod 22a. The housing IE4: is secured to trunnions ita and lta, the latter trunnion being of tubular construction and communicating with the compression chamber 25a in the interior of the housing l5a.

The tubular trunnion I90: has connected thereto a fuel supply pipe 43 whereby liquid or gaseous fuel may be discharged into the chamber 2% under suitable pressure. The tubular trunnion l9a has interposed in the length thereof an outwardly closing check valve 44, as shown in Figure 7, so that when pressure in the chamber 26a, is generated by combustion of the bases, the pressure will be retained in the chamber 260; and held against outward movement to the fuel supply line 43. A spark plug 45 is mounted in the rear wall Ila of the housing I51: and may be energized periodically byconventional timing means operated by reciprocation of rod 22.

In the use and operation of this device, fluid under pressure, such as air, is connected with the pressure line 20. Pressure in chamber 26 will expend the forward wall or diaphragm 25 to initially move piston 23 outwardly on the power stroke, piston 23 moving to the left as viewed in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and at the same time fluid pressure will pass through nipple 21 and impinge against the rear side of piston 23. Nipple 21 constitutes a nozzle for directing a stream of fluid against the piston or head 23 so that the fluid will act as a motive force for moving piston 23 after the piston 23 is disengaged from the expansible wall or diaphragm 25. I

When the piston or head 23 moves to the left tates housing [5 will rock on trunnions l3 and It, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

In the present instance, the power device or prime mover is shown coupled to a rotating element, whereas in my copending application Serial Number 525,075, filed March 4, 1944, now Patent No. 2,432,877, for Pneumatic tool, the device herein disclosed is shown applied to a reciprocating element. I

The modification shown in Figures 6 and '1 will operate similar to the disclosure of Figures 1 to 5 with the exception that the motive fluid may be either a combustible gas or combustible liquid which is forced into combustion and compression chamber 26:; and is exploded either under high compression after the manner of a Diesel engine or is exploded by means of the spark plug 46.

The power device hereinbefore described may be applied to any desired driven means and it will. therefore, be understood that I do not wish to be limited to any specific application of this power device.

What I claim is:

l. A power device comprising a pressure chamher; a distortable wall at one side of said chamber having a central opening, an axial guide extending oppositely of said wall, a rod slidably engaging said guide and extending through said opening, a power head carried by said rod engageable against said wall and movable away from said wall by pressure passing through said opening, and means for movingsaid head toward said wall.

2. A power device comprising a member formed with a pressure chamber, a distortable wall carried by said member having a central exhaust opening, a guide carried by said member coaxial with said opening, a rod slidable in said guide and extending through said opening, a power head fixed to said rod engageable against said wall on one stroke thereof and movable away from said wall by pressure passing through said opening, and means for moving said head toward said wall.

3. A valveless power device comprising a reciprocating power head, a guide rod secured to said head and extending from opposite sides thereof, a housing at one side of said head, a guide for said rod carried by one wall of said housing, a distortable opposite wall carried by said housing having an opening substantially larger than said rod and smaller than said head whereby said head at the end of the return stroke thereof will close said opening, a crank shaft connected to one end of said rod, means supporting said housing for rocking movement, and means discharging fluid under pressure in said housing.

4. A valveless power device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said housing supporting means includes at least one tubular trunnion and said fluid discharging means is connected to said tubular trunnion.

5. A valveless power device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said opposite wall is formed of yieldable metallic construction.

6. A valveless power device as set forth in claim a sesses 3 wherein said opposite wall is formed of a spirally wound metal strip.

7. A valveiess power device as set forth in claim 3-inc1uding means carried by rod for varying the inward distortion of said distortable'wall.

8. A valveless power device comprising a housing having a fluid chamber therein and an opening in one wall thereof, said one wall being distortable whereby inward distortion thereof will reduce-said chamber and increase the compression of fluid therein, a reciprocal power head, means supporting said head for reciprocal movement toward and away from said one wall, means connecting said chamber with a source of fuel under pressure, a check valve in said connecting means, means varying the inward distortion of said one wall, and means for burning the fuel in said chamber.

LGUIS FRANCIS.

nnrnnnnoss ennui The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STA'I'ES PATENTS 

